Texas Rangers: Todd Van Poppel made his first start since 2000 after the Rangers activated the right-hander for Saturday's game against Cleveland.

Van Poppel got a no-decision, allowing five runs in four innings. The Rangers would win 6-5.

Van Poppel was on the 15-day disabled list since the start of the season with a strained right groin.

The Rangers also activated pitcher Jay Powell from the 15-day disabled list and optioned pitcher Rosman Garcia to Triple-A Oklahoma City. In addition, the club outrighted left-hander Erasmo Ramirez to Oklahoma City.

The Rangers also released pitcher Rudy Seanez from his contract with Triple-A Oklahoma City. The 34-year-old right-hander was injured during spring training and was sent to the minors.

Powell had been on the disabled list since April 18 with vertigo-like symptoms. He has pitched in five games this season.

Van Poppel, who pitched in relief the past two years, hadn't started a game since Sept. 24, 2000, for the Chicago Cubs.

Chicago Cubs: Zach Day isn't the NL rookie of the month for April, after all.

One day after the Montreal Expos right-hander was picked as the NL rookie for April, the honor was rescinded and given instead to Cubs first baseman Hee Seop Choi.

It turns out Day spent a few days too many in the majors last season to still be considered a rookie.

"I didn't know that,'' Choi said after the Cubs' 6-4 loss to the Rockies on Saturday afternoon. "Wow.''

But Day wasn't too bothered by the disappearing award.

"I'm not even thinking about it. It's in the past,'' he said in St. Louis, where the Expos lost 3-1 to the Cardinals. "I didn't know about it until yesterday. Today it's already gone. It's not a big deal.''

Day was 2-1 with a 2.48 ERA in April. But he began the season with 81 days of major league service -- including 52 days before Sept. 1.

According to rules established by the Baseball Writers Association of America, rookies cannot exceed 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched, or have been on an active roster for more than 45 days before Sept. 1.

"Actually, coming into this year, I didn't think I was a rookie,'' Day said. "I felt like I had enough experience and I didn't feel like a rookie.''